Simmons celebrates signage of comprehensive public transit bill

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons served as chief co-sponsor and led passage of a newly signed law, House Bill 1342, which will accelerate the rollout of electric buses under the Regional Transportation Authority, Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace. This law will also boost accessibility to public transportation through reduced ride fares for young people and survivors of domestic violence and their dependents. The new law also will review extending these same benefits year-round to returning citizens and veterans by July 1, 2024.

“As a lifelong user of Chicago public transit, and as a Chicagoan who believes deeply in public transit, I am happy to see this package become law,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “It simultaneously addresses many issues in our public transit system. It requires all buses purchased by CTA, and all RTA systems including Metra and PACE, to be electric by 2026. Transportation remains our largest sector for carbon emissions. This is a huge step forward for sustainability. This new law will also help improve accessibility, reliability, and ridership of our cherished transit systems at a time when it is desperately needed.”

The measure – House Bill 1342 – includes many positive initiatives including reduced ride fares for young people and survivors of domestic violence. It requires the RTA to distribute preloaded fare cards to service providers of survivors of domestic violence and their dependents, as well as requires the CTA to provide reduced fares for youth-involved jobs programs. It also requires PACE and Metra to create or participate in a youth jobs or internship program. The law further initiates a study looking into reduced ride fares for returning citizens and veterans. Lastly, it provides the CTA with flexibility on the farebox recovery ratio to help the agency recover and regain ridership to pre-pandemic levels.

“So many people rely on public transportation,” said Simmons. “This law not only helps everyday people like the communities I fight for everyday, but also puts us on the path toward clean energy. I am proud to have helped lead and secure its passage.”

House Bill 1342 was signed into law Friday, July 28, 2023.

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State agencies to support gender inclusivity under Simmons law

SPRINGFIELD – To increase gender inclusivity across the state of Illinois and within state agencies, State Senator Mike Simmons championed a new law that will support state employees who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming by integrating them into the state's diverse workforce initiatives.

“This law will ensure our state’s workforce reflects the diversity of our population,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Recognizing and respecting every identity in the workforce is basic common decency, and everyone deserves to feel seen and supported by the field they want to enter.”

The new law adds state employees who identify as non-binary or gender non-conforming to the list of women, minorities and persons with physical disabilities in regards to agencies tracking this information to help guide efforts to achieve a more diversified state workforce.

“Recognizing gender non-conforming and non-binary people in our state government and state agencies is the first step to promoting inclusivity and bringing different perspectives to the table,” Simmons said.

House Bill 2297 was signed into law on Friday and goes into effect on July 1, 2025.

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Simmons laws to make crossings safer for pedestrians and cyclists

SPRINGFIELD – To increase the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, State Senator Mike Simmons successfully championed a set of new laws to require permanent vehicle crossing signs to be added to bike trails and created a task force to monitor the impact of local bicycle and pedestrian plans.

“Last summer we lost the lives of two children, on two separate occasions, to cyclists’ accidents in our community,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “We want our residents to feel safe by providing them with the security of increased protections for pedestrians and cyclists to prevent heartbreaking tragedies like we experienced last year.”

Senate Bill 1710 requires bike trails to have warning signs along the path warning pedestrians and cyclists of a vehicle crossing at least 150 feet in advance. The new law ensures cyclists on a trail have ample warning to know when to slow down and stop before a busy intersection. Permanent signage on state roadways warning vehicles of bicycle trail crossings also must be added within 150 feet of a trail crossing so vehicles can yield. Signs to warn cyclists of other trail hazards, damage to the trail, and maintenance of the trail will be installed.

Additionally, House Bill 2131 creates the Zero Traffic Fatalities Task Force to help reduce bicycle accidents on roads by reporting detailed analysis of existing practices around speed limits, the reduction of speed limits, the steps to eliminate vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle fatalities on roads, and their lasting impact.
“We can prevent bicycle injuries and accidents by following the rules of the road and watching out for each other,” Simmons said. “I am happy to see these initiatives go into effect to make roadways and bike trails safer for everyone.”

Senate Bill 1710 and House Bill 2131 were signed into law on Friday and go into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

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Simmons attends White House meeting to create safer communities and reduce gun violence

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons joined senior White House and Department of Justice officials virtually to discuss the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and how federal and state governments can work together to implement the act to reduce gun violence.

“Gun violence plagues the communities of Illinois and beyond. My colleagues and I have worked tirelessly to advocate against gun violence and are aggressive in passing legislation to save lives and rebuild communities,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “I am ready to take the work we have done here in Illinois to the next level. We need to implement strong, consistent policy to get weapons of war off our streets and save lives.”

In Illinois, legislative leaders have passed the Protect Illinois Communities Act, legislation cosponsored by Simmons which places a ban on assault weapons and increases the duration of a Firearm Restraining Order from six months to up to one year. Simmons has proactively worked to reduce gun violence and make communities safer in the Senate by chief-cosponsoring House Bill 4383 and House Bill 4729. Both bills were signed into law last year, one which banned ghost guns and the other which developed a statewide safe gun storage public awareness campaign.

Simmons partners with community advocates including Moms Demand Action - Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady United Against Gun Violence, Giffords PAC, and survivors of gun violence from his district to build out and fight for sensible gun laws. Last year, Simmons hosted a People’s Legislative Council on Gun Violence to listen to constituents’ lived experiences and bring their voices into the legislative process.

“Action is needed at all levels of government to contain the gun violence epidemic. I plan to build on my track record of fighting for and advancing sensible gun legislation while centering the advocacy and needs of my constituents here in the 7th district. Collaborating with the White House and other state leaders to fully implement the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is an important step forward in reducing gun violence and saving lives.”

Simmons attended the virtual White House Meeting with States on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Implementation Friday.

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